Initial Evaluation for Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation
The initial evaluation begins with a referral from your
hematologist or oncologist to a blood and marrow transplant doctor.
After this referral, the Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
new patient coordinator will call you with an appointment date and time.
Prior to your appointment
To assist the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program doctor in
determining your treatment options, it is essential that you work with
your hematologist's or oncologist's office staff to have the following
sent to us prior to your evaluation:
- Medical records describing your diagnosis and prior
treatment
- Biopsy slides, tissue blocks and pathology
reports
- Radiology studies such as CT and PET scans, MRI, and
ultrasounds
Your evaluation appointment
The initial evaluation is designed to provide you with information
about blood and bone marrow transplantation and usually takes between
2-4 hours.
- At this visit you will meet a Blood and Marrow Transplant
Program Physician and a Nurse Coordinator.
- The Blood and
Marrow Transplant Program doctor will take a detailed medical
history, perform a physical examination and recommend the
various treatment options for you.
- You will
also meet a Blood and Marrow Transplant Program Social Worker either
during your initial visit, or at a later date.
- The Blood and
Marrow Transplant Program social worker will conduct a
psychosocial assessment and discuss the non-medical aspects of
the transplant process including your support system,
caregivers, housing, work issues, disability, and leave programs
and generally how well you are adjusting to your illness and
treatment.
Other appointment considerations
- During the visit you are given a lot of information and we
encourage you to bring a family member or friend to help you
remember what was discussed.
- You may also want to take
notes or tape record the visit.
- If English is not your
primary language please tell us this when scheduling your visit and
we will make every attempt to have a translator for your preferred
language.
After your visit
After your initial visit, your history will later be presented to
the entire Blood and Marrow Transplant Program team. The team will
work together and determine—based on your disease, history and other
factors—the BEST treatment option we can offer you. In some cases,
this means that your treatment plan my change from what was presented
to you on your first visit. If you proceed with transplantation your
Blood and Marrow Transplant Program nurse coordinator will facilitate
your pre-transplant testing, establish your treatment schedule and
help coordinate your care.
